NBO form
Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) System
RECORDING FORM
Name of infant Gender Date of birth
Today’s date
Gestational age Weight APGAR Parity
Type of feeding Setting
Others present Practitioner
BEHAVIOR OBSERVATION RECORD ANTICIPATORY GUIDANCE
3 2 1 CHECKLIST*
1. Habituation to light with ease with some with great Sleep patterns
(flashlight) difficulty difficulty
2. Habituation to sound with ease with some with great Sleep protection
(rattle) difficulty difficulty
3. Muscle tone: legs and arms strong fairly strong very high/ Muscle tone
very low
4. Rooting strong fairly strong weak Feeding cue
5. Sucking strong fairly strong weak Feeding cue
6. Hand grasp strong fairly strong weak Touch and contact
7. Shoulder and neck tone strong fairly strong weak Tone
(pull to sit)
8. Crawling response strong fairly strong weak Sleep position and safety
9. Response to face and voice very moderately not Social interaction
responsive responsive responsive
10. Visual response (to face) very moderately not Vision
responsive responsive responsive
11. Orientation to voice very moderately not Hearing
responsive responsive responsive
12. Orientation to sound very moderately not Hearing
(rattle) responsive responsive responsive
13. Visual tracking (red ball) very moderately not Communication cues
responsive responsive responsive
14. Crying very little occasionally a lot Crying and soothability
15. Soothability soothes soothes soothes Self-soothing
easily with some with great
difficulty difficulty
Figure 3.2. The NBO recording form. (continued)
Understanding Newborn Behavior and Early Relationships: The Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) System
Handbook by J. Kevin Nugent, Constance H. Keefer, Susan Minear, Lise C. Johnson, and Yvette Blanchard.
Copyright © 2007 Children’s Hospital Boston. All rights reserved.
NBO form
Figure 3.2. (continued)
BEHAVIOR OBSERVATION RECORD ANTICIPATORY GUIDANCE
3 2 1 CHECKLIST*
16. State regulation well- somewhat not State regulation /temperament
organized organized organized
17. Response to stress: color not moderately very Stimulation threshold
changes, tremors, startles stressed stressed stressed
18. Activity level optimal moderate very high/ Needs support
very low
SUMMARY PROFILE AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Strengths
Challenges/areas in need of support
Additional comments
* Use the checklist to specify areas that may require discussion, guidance, or continued follow-up.
Understanding Newborn Behavior and Early Relationships: The Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) System
Handbook by J. Kevin Nugent, Constance H. Keefer, Susan Minear, Lise C. Johnson, and Yvette Blanchard.
Copyright © 2007 Children’s Hospital Boston. All rights reserved.
